Vapor-rectifier system.



110.871,171. PATENTEDNQV. 19, 1907.

VAPOR RBCTIPIER SYSTEM. APPLIOATIOI FILED lAl.13, 1907.

' )lV/@G5365 /UVGDfOV l a; ,M y O/a (l Kruh.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OSIAS O. KRUH, OF S'GHENEGTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY,

A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

VAPOR-RECTIFIER SYSTEM.

ivo.- 871,171.

Toall whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OsiAsO. KRUH, a subject of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary, residing at Schenectady, county of Schenectady, State of New York, have invented certain new and usefIul- Im rovements in lVapor- 'Rectifier Systems, of w ich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electrical systems in which a vapor electric device is utilized for converting alternating current into direct current. y

It comprises a system whereby vapor electric devices ma -be utilized for supplying ycurrent to a loa circuit which is subject to a on fa load circuit capable of developing a' back kick or back How ofcurrent, the recti fier is liable to extinguishment when this back kick approaches a voltage sufficient to overpower the normal alternating current supply voltage for that particular instant. According to the present invention the rectifier is so rotected by auxiliary means that'back kic s from the load circuit are diverted from the rectifier and thereby becomeineffective and harmless.

The fundamental idea of my invention will i be better understood after consideration of a win s ecific embodiment, such as is hereinafter escribed and illustratedY in the accompanying drawing.

The system illustrated in the drawing comprises a source of energy indicated by line conductors 1 and 2, a vapor-nectiiier 3 of ordinary type, vand a load circuit comprising theprimary 4 of an induction coil together with its interrupter 5 and the usual spark absorbing condenser' 6 and adjustable series resistance 7. The primary 8'of the induction coil may beconnected to sparking terminals 9 of ordinary type. The interrupter is illustrated as of themechanical make and break type driven by a small series motor com rising the amature 10 and the field ding 11. This motor ma be. connected directly on shunt vto the loa circuit of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Applicatn filed March 13. 1907. Serial No. 3,62173.

At least one Patented Nov. 19, 1907.

rectifier'. Other form's of interrupters are suitable for use in the above relation, andv lthe make and break interrupter is used for illustrative purposes. The load circuitmay be connected betweenlthev mercury cathode 12 of the vapor rectifier and the neutral oint of two reactances 13 and 14 connected 1n series across the source of ower. vapor rectifier is provided Wit the usual main anodes 15 and 16 and with a starting anode 17.

lVhen the rectifier is started on light load,y

that is. with the spark ga 9 of the induction coil short circuited Tor s ortened in length, the rectifier will operate without diiculty and will deliver uni-directional'current to the interrupter 5 and the primary 4 of the induction coil.V The interrupter serves to cut this uni-directional current into a succession of uni-directional pulsations of suitable freuency, and these induce an alternating e ectromotive force in the secondary 8 of the induction coil It will be noted that the series motor takes current continually, thus affording a continuous demand for current from the rectifier tube Whether the interrupter 5 is in the open or closed position. If,

now, the load on the induction coil is in creased, as by gradually cutting out resistance 7, the system becomes more and more unstable an finally the rectifier goes out. This inoperative condition may be reached at current values as low as half the normal current for. the primary of the induction coil.

More than one cause may contribute to the extinction of the rectifier arc, but probably the trouble arises from oscillations produced in the load circuit. This load `contains a spark gap,'capacity and a reactance and circuits of this nature, as is Well known, are liable to high frequency oscillations and disturbances. These disturbances, of course, increase Withthe quantity of current through the load,-conse uently the vapor rectifier becomes more an current thereon approaches the normal full load value. This is a phenomenonquite different from the instability produced by a gradually decreasing load current.

Whatever the cause may be which causes more unstable as the load,

the rectifier to go lout when the .load on the I induction coil is'increased, I find that the trouble may' be obviated by connecting a noninductive resistance 18 between the rectifier cathode andthe conductor leading back v ject to hack flow of current, a vapor .rectifier to reactances 1.3 and i4. The resistance is .in shunt with the seriesflnotor and-also in shunt with the load clrcult conslstnig of 1nterrupter and inductioncoil Presumably thc oscillations or bac-k flows from the load circuit are dissipated through the non-my. ductive resistance 18 and thereforeare not.

transmitted tothe vapor rectifier, or atleast not in sufiicient quantity to put the rectifier out. I do not, however, desire 'to be limited to any particular theory and consider that my invention includes all those modifications of apparatus which come Within thescope of the appended claims.

That l. claimas new and desire to secure hy .Letters Patent of the United States, is

-l. The combination of a load circuit subject to hack flow of energy, a'vapor rectifier supplying current thereto, and an auxiliary path for current operatively connected to protect said rectifier from the current hack fioW of said load circuit.

2. The combination of a load circuit. sul)- supplying energy thereto, and a non-inductive resistance 'connected in shunt with said load circuit for protectingsaid rectifier' 'from the back flowing' current of said load.

3. The combination ot' aninduction coil, an interruptei' in circuit'vvith one windingr of said coil, a mercury rectifier' supplying' energy through said intcrrlmter to said coil, and a substantially non-lnductive path in shunt with sind interruptor and coil.

4. 'lhc conihination of an induction coil,

having' sparking,` terminals, a vapor rectifier Vnon-inductive resistance in. shunt supplying current to the primary Winding of said coil, and a path of low inductance forming a shunt path. for oscillations occurring in said primary.

5. The combination of a'load circuit in-y cluding,r a primary of an induction` coil, a vapor rectifier connected to said circuit, and a with said load circuit.

6. The combination with a load circuit, in-` cluding an interrupter and a Windingv'of an induction coil, a mercury rectifier supplying current to said load circuit, a reactive path' f supplying energy thereto, an inductive current path 1n shunt Withsald load, and a noninductive path for current also in shunt with said load.

In Witness whereof, I Ahave hereunto set my hand this 8th dayof March, 1907.

OSIAS Q'. KRUH. Witnesses BENJAMIN B. HULL, HELEN Onronn. 

